How to Make a Secret Code

Not all secrets are bad. Check out this activity where critical thinking skills will be put to the test. Encourage a bit of mystery and intrigue by teaching your clever kid how to create and use secret codes.

What You Need:

Paper

Scissors

Marker

Tape

Broom

What You Do:

Start off by having your child use scissors to cut a long and narrow strip from a white piece of paper.

Help him wrap the paper tightly around a broom handle. The edges should touch, but not overlap.

Have him tape the ends of the paper strip in place on the broom handle.

Let him lay the broom handle on a flat surface.

Have your child use a marker to write a message from one end of the wrapped paper to the other, crossing over the strip's edges. If his message is long, encourage him to write a line beneath the first one.

Carefully help him remove the taped paper strip from the broom handle.

Have him take a look at the paper strip and the jumbled, seemingly random letters.

Let him give his secret message to a friend. Does he think his friend can figure it out?

BySue BradfordEdwards

Updated on Jul 11, 2013

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